Buy or continue renting?

[Atlasta]

Dfriend has just inherited 40K. She is a single parent of two and works part-time on a low salary. She is renting a council property and absolutely loves her home and the area.
Her parents are pushing her to using money as a deposit and buying a house.
I'm not so sure. Advice please as when she asked my advice I really have no idea of pros and cons. Inital feeling is to stay put.

Does anyone know if you can claim benefits whilst still being under the same roof as husband(separated).Can't afford to move out,still have 17 & 11 yr old at home.Have no money,he's put pay to that.He's very co ntrolling,can 't go to refuge it would mean taking girls out of school,I want to keep life as normal as possible.
I have to get out soon,he's trying everything to convince me to stay,after 20 years nothing's going to change....

Atlasta personally I would prefer to buy but difficult if in an area you love. Could she buy the property she is in? Otherwise maybe look around and see what is near by so she can stay in the area. We have just paid off the last of our mortgage and it is lovely going into retirement knowing we don't have any rent or mortgage to pay.Also rent is often more than the mortgage rate. She should also go and speak to a Financial Adviser. There used to be free ones about, We took our son and he realised he was better off buying. He has four years left on his mortgage as he was 21 when he bought his house.
In the meantime put most of it in a high interest account so it doesn't get fritted away. Her parents are wise.

Antha720
I think you may have posted on the wrong thread and I don't know the answer but Citizens advice will be able to help. Some Women's Refuges and in local areas just people don't always know about them. If so she wouldn't have to move the girls She needs to quietly get all her ducks in order first.

There is another option, she could put the money towards a buy to let property and remain in a council place if she likes it so much, or just buy the property she's in from local authority.
Of course, different local authorities are likely to have different rules.

A big worry is repairs etc. I know she's concerned that if all this money went into the actual house then she she would be in a predicament if, say, the boiler broke or there was another unforeseen expense that she was responsible for.
I'm not much help as have only ever lived in rented property.

I suppose that's down to having the money for insurances etc. Sorry

Is £40k even enough deposit for a mortgage on a low wage? Depends on the area and house prices, but I wouldn't give up the security of a council tenancy if I was lucky enough to have one. But if she gets benefits they will be massively reduced or taken away with that much in savings. Does she have right to buy on her property?

What PP have said is true. She'll lose all benefits with that money within 6 months (the window given to buy a house). Once she buys a house (if she can afford it?) She might still get some UC. Unfortunately, she can't spend that money in random things as the benefits people will frown upon that and will lower her claim.

It's a bit controversial now, but has she looked into "Right to Buy". Is the property still owned by the council or is it through a housing association? If it's the council and she has been renting for more than 3 years she might be able to buy that house.